A few weeks ago I put up a few photos of my new wig and then a short while after that I took them down for various reasons, one of which a family member had emailed me a link to my own site (this one) discussing an article I had written years ago and that “I” should check it out. I felt panicked that with the photos of myself on the site that this person would for sure, instantly, make the connection and realize this was my site, so I quickly pulled the pictures down offline. A lot of women where emailing me because they wanted to see the photos that everyone was referring to so I then put together a private gallery and emailed the link out to several women. Well, I’ve since come clean to the family member who I was concerned about and I want to share some more photos and video with everyone so that women can get a better idea of how the wig sits on my head and also those photos that where once in the private gallery are included in the video as well. So my apologies to those who have already seen them, that part will be a repeat for you.
I made a short video clip yesterday on my iPhone pulling back my wig from ear to ear to show where it sits on my head, it is shaky awful camera work, plus I was trying to use an icon to conceal my face and the whole thing is a bit of a mess, but you’ll still get the idea. In addition to that I just realized when I viewed the thing that just quickly throwing everything in iMovie without setting start and end points on the still images results in having the top of my head cut off in several pics, I should have been more careful but oh well… next time. When I pull the wig straight back in the video you’ll see my degraded hairline and then where the wig is sharply is defined. I would never wear it pulled back that tight, no reason to. Depending on if my hair and the wig is on a fresh wash, will definite how much I can get away with. In the images where I have all the front pulled into a tiny clip on my head, I had washed the wig the night before and then blow dried my own hair with product (at the hairline) to make it as thick as possible. I can only pull off that style if all those conditions are met, otherwise I just wear it in a side clip or straight down.
I definitely think I’m washing my wig way too much, but I can’t help it, I like the way it responds better when it’s washed and also I just love my hair smelling like yummy shampoo, it provides me with a much better “real hair” experience. So I’m probably shortening the life of the wig, and I fully accept the consequences. Que sera sera 🙂
Today I am Strong
Today I am Free
Today I CAN be ME
Here’s the video and turn your speakers on so it isn’t too weird watching this mishmosh video collage LOL!
I believe in the power of hope, I believe in the power of change, I just think we need to do a bit more than hope to change.
— WHLP (@whlpnetwork) July 4, 2012
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I would NEVER had known you wear wigs….I am curious as to who creates your wigs? Thank you for sharing.
wow this is crazy you wigs looks so wonderful on you….I am sitting here thinking what could be worse…Death or having to wear a wig???
These pictures really make my heart mush lighter….thanks you so much!
Wow. That is unbelievably natural-looking. I can still get away with just fluffing the heck out of my own hair, myself, though that condition probably will not obtain forever – but now I just WANT one of these!
If you didn’t show exactly where it’s attached, I would never guess this wasn’t all your own. Thank you for sharing this!
OMG that is the most wonderful hair system or wig i have ever seen or a real person… How is it attached to your hair and the part looks so real
OMG <3
Looks incredible! Thank you for sharing! I want one of those too. What brand is it and where can I research it? FYI, you are obviously a beautiful young woman!
Just saying :))
I agree with Racheal…please do share how we find one like yours :O)
@phillygrl – Aww thank you so much for your super kind words, it means so much to me. I am coming around… slowly.. being able to share more of myself as I actually become more comfortable. It’s been a long slow process for me, but I’m excited now about perhaps being able to be even more effective in helping women to know that not only are they not alone, not only is there hope, but if all else fails you can always do what I have finally gotten the courage to do.. wear a wig. I haven’t actually purchased anything from the company straight through mail order, so I’m not sure how that would be. Definitely inquire about the return policy in case something is off. At the salon I was told there was a 24 hour return policy (piece cannot have been washed or cut) which I did end up making use of because the first piece I got had a bit of a tangling issue, they where very accommodating when I came back. I think they mean you have to notify them in 24 hours, not that you have to get the piece back to them in that time, so just clarify that ahead of time because these are expensive pieces and you want to make sure what you get is the right color etc. I’m so glad I’m helping some others make the leap too!
@Mellonin – There was only one wig in the video montage above. but I technically own 4 in total, 2 Milanos, 1 Freeda and 1 Follea. It was soooo strange to have someone send me an article from my own site and tell me to take a look at it LOL!
@ Sandy – I can assure Death is much worse 🙂 Wearing a wig is really no big deal, I mean I’m not going to lie and say it feels like nothing at all, it does feel like you are wearing a wig but not in an obtrusive uncomfortable way, just in a way you acknowledge is there and move on. I much prefer feeling the slight weight on my head and having the confidence to go out into the world again. I got this wig at Follea: http://www.follea.com/ It’s actually the same wig in the video and in all the photos it was just styled differently and it looks different also based on if it was right after a fresh wash, the fresh wash gives it a nice lift off the roots ( I air dry it upside down ). xoxo
Thanks so much for the kind words!!
@ Patty – This is all the same wig. 🙂 Singular. Only one wig in this video and it was a wig I got at Follea, it’s their “Lifestyle Collection” and I got it in a medium length, it comes short, medium and long. It looks different at different times depending on if it had a fresh wash and it’s looking poofy and wavy or what I like to call my “Va Va Voom Hair.” LOL or if it’s straight from just losing the after wash wave or because I deliberately flat ironed it.
@Helen – whether ya need a wig or not now, isn’t it just great knowing that there are actually options out there and that we do have choices! And that we are just aren’t forever doomed to go out into the world like Homer Simpson 🙂 Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it just feels good to know that we aren’t forced into it. I want to share as much of my new wiggy life as possible to help women realize not only this option exists but that its OKAY. I think wigs in general have gotten a bad rap, and they are just awesome sexy life changers that carry the potential to help us feel more comfortable in our own skin and help us recapture a part of us we may have lost when our hair loss took over.
@Lori – The part looks real because it’s a good wig, that part is ALL wig, the amount of my hair is very minimal that I pull out in the front to help with blending. Although if a person had zero hairline this wig would be great with bangs (straight or side swept) and then it wouldn’t even matter if you had any hair on your head. I want to eventually get a wig with bangs to see if I could wear that style, I love the way bangs look and it’s a great wig style that I think it’s pretty flawless. The way I “attach” the wig is by using a WiGrip. The WiGrip is this little friction headband that miraculously grips the wig to it and keeps that sucker in place… really securely. I couldn’t wear wigs if it wasn’t for this little invention. It’s such a simple little thing: http://www.mcwigs.com/accessories/wigrip-comfort-band.html but it’s brilliant.
@Rachel – This is the Follea Lifestyle Wig and it’s “Medium” length. You can find the info on their site: http://www.follea.com or the details are in their catalog:
http://www.follea.com/data/files/follea-wig-catalog-2012.pdf If you scroll through it you’ll see the “lifestyle collection” and the colors it comes in. The color I have is C5030 Thanks for thinking I’m beautiful even admits my blurry face 🙂 Very sweet.
xoxo
You all asked the very same questions, that I was thinking, as I read the blog! Now, I would love to know if that Wigrip tends to give you headaches. How does it grip the wig…velcro? Couldn’t tell on that website where it is sold and there is no ‘sample’ shown. Also, I don’t know where you live but would I die from the heat…wearing the Wigrip when our temps are in triple digits daily??? LOL It looks wide and heavy in the picture. That is the most amazing wig. Thanks….Have a safe 4th everyone.
Wow..that wig is amazing! If you don’t mind, there are a few things I would like to know — I just looked at the Follea website and it seemed so confusing. Did you mail order your wig or did you go someplace for a fitting? Is yours an “integration” wig or do you just cover your own hair? Also, if you got the Wigrip from another source, how does Follea recommend you attach the wigs? I have a synthetic wig (that I never wear) and had to use a lot of bobbypins. Lastly, I see they are very expensive. How long is a wig like yours supposed to last? Thanks and congratulations for taking this step!
Thank you for all the nice comments on my wiggy!
@ Pam – The WiGrip doesn’t give me headaches at all, but when I first started wearing it I think I was wrapping it too tight and my head would be sore when I removed the band at night, sort of like if you have a tight ponytail in all day. But I think that was user error, or maybe I had to adjust to, now I don’t tie it as tight and I’m totally fine, no issues what so ever. I take it off give my head a good scratch and I’m good to go. The grip has velcro on the ends so you wrap it and then attach the velcro part to secure it at the right spot for your size head. The part actually touching your head and the part touching the wig is just a soft velour type material. I’ll do a video on the WiGrip to show everyone more about it, since I think it would be a much better way to see how it worked. I does add a very minimal bulk to the wig that would’t be present without the grip, but it is very very minimal. I haven’t actually spent a super triple digit weather day outside with this wig / wig grip so I can’t really comment on how hot it would be. I don’t think the wi grip would make the wig situation any hotter than it would be without it though. It is definitely wide, but it isn’t heavy, it’s fairly light.
@Beth – I got the wig at the Follea salon in Beverly Hills… it was in person. The wig covers my head, it’s not an integration unit. I did ask that same question you asked about how the wig would stay on because I brought my grip with me, and I think I may have had a different experience without it. The wig has several places on the front, back and sides where clips or combs could be attached and that is how it would have to done I think, I’ve tried this wig on without the grips and it does not stay, it just slides right off my head LOL. I think most people that wear wigs keep them on with clips and combs and probably the addition of a wig cap which would provide a fair amount of friction as well to assist in keeping it on. I also asked about how long it is suppose to last, I was told about 3 years, probably would last longer if you baby the heck out it, mine probably won’t last that long because I’m not playing by the wig rules and I’m washing my wig more often than I should. We shall see 🙂
xoxo
You are officially my new favorite person in the whole world, even though we have never met ! Its been amazing watching you grow from “hiding”(like me) to now giving us pictures and videos. I feel like one day we will be coming to you to purchase from your new wig salon
Thank you for giving the hair color number..it is exactly like mine and has been a big reason I havent gotten a wig, trying to find the right color online, but now Im going to place the order with my next paycheck. Being all the way across the country, I will have to order online. Have you any impressions of doing business with Follea that way?
You can rest your head at night(wigged or wigless) and know that you are helping so many women, more than you know. Thank U Thank U Thank U
How many wigs do you have right now? You surely took a dive in the deep end of the pool! Me likey!!!
Your hair looks amazing!
It must have been strange to be found that way by a relative, but then when you came clean, you could just say: “Yes, it was me who created this site and all its awesomness!”
Great photos and video clip! I was wondering, could you wear it up? In an up-do or ponytail or would it be to obvious it is a wig? I live in the South and really it would be too hot for me to never wear the hair up. Thanks for sharing all your tips and own experiences!